April 05, 2025
BY ESHERU KWEKU
Cold-Blooded: Video Footage Exposes IDF Murder of Aid Workers
Rafah, Gaza Strip – Shocking video footage obtained by the New York Times and verified by Sky News has laid bare a horrifying truth: Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers systematically murdered 15 aid workers in cold blood last month. The graphic evidence directly contradicts the IDF's initial claims about the deadly incident, igniting international outrage and demands for immediate accountability.
video credit (New York Times)
The footage, filmed on March 23rd in Rafah, shows a clearly marked convoy of ambulances and a fire-fighting vehicle, all with flashing red emergency lights, traveling south. When the convoy stops, aid workers exit their vehicles, only to be met with a barrage of intense gunfire that continues for approximately five minutes. In the video, a paramedic is heard stating in Arabic that Israelis are present and reciting a declaration of faith recited before death. Harrowingly, Hebrew voices can also be heard in the background as the slaughter unfolds.
The victims of this brutal attack include eight medics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), six civil defense members, and one UN employee. Their bodies were later discovered in a "mass grave," according to Jonathan Whittall, head of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, with one ambulance found crushed beneath the sand, its emergency light marking the burial site.
IDF's False Narrative Shattered
The IDF initially claimed that its troops fired upon "suspicious vehicles" without headlights or emergency signals in an active combat zone, further alleging that several militants from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were among the deceased. However, the newly released video evidence unequivocally refutes this narrative. The flashing lights on the clearly identifiable emergency vehicles were visible, exposing the IDF's account as a blatant falsehood.
The PRCS has condemned the "targeting of aid workers" as a "war crime" and has called for an independent international investigation – a demand echoed by numerous international organizations. PRCS President Dr. Younis Al Khatib, speaking at the United Nations, stated, "We don't trust any of the army investigations, and this is why we were very clear in saying that we need an independent inquiry into this."1
Forensic analyst Ahmad Dhaher, who examined five of the bodies, stated that preliminary analysis suggests the aid workers were shot at close range, possibly in "execution-style" killings, with bullet wounds aimed at the head, heart, and torso.
International Outcry and Demands for Justice
The release of this damning footage has intensified the already widespread international condemnation of the incident. Dylan Winder, Permanent Observer of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFC), expressed outrage at the deaths of the medics, emphasizing that "humanitarians must be protected" under international humanitarian law and that their clearly marked ambulances should have guaranteed their safety.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), described the discovery of the bodies in shallow graves as a "profound violation of human dignity." He noted that over 400 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict.
Amnesty International has also reiterated its call for an independent and impartial investigation into the killings, stating that deliberate attacks on medics and humanitarian workers are prohibited under international law and constitute war crimes.
A Pattern of Violence Against Aid Workers
Tragically, this incident appears to be part of a disturbing pattern of attacks on aid workers in Gaza. Just last year, an Israeli airstrike killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, sparking global outrage. While the IDF admitted to "grave mistakes" in that instance, this latest footage suggests a far more deliberate and sinister act.
The international community is now facing mounting pressure to ensure that those responsible for the murder of these 15 aid workers are held fully accountable. The shocking video evidence leaves no room for doubt: this was not a mistake; it was a cold-blooded betrayal of humanitarian principles and a potential war crime that demands an immediate and transparent independent investigation. The world is watching, and justice for these fallen heroes must be served.
